A Godzilla tree in lights, Colonel Sanders as Santa and decorated cakes are some of the common Christmas sights in Japan.
Bassmaster anglers who hail from Japan have mostly assimilated into American culture and follow Christmas customs like their neighbors, but some American traditions have crossed over to Japan, albeit with twists.
One expected result from the gift-giving season is “buying more tackle.” An unexpected one is the popularity of “Uncle Sanders,” or sometimes “Uncle Sam,” the Kentucky Fried Chicken icon. Statues of the Colonel stand in front of restaurants in red Santa suits as fried chicken is popular Christmas day fare and elicits lengthy lines at many of the 1,181 outlets there.
Yusuke Miyazaki never got it growing up. He said his mother always roasted a chicken. Well, either roasted or fried, you can bet chicken is most likely on the menu of the Japanese contingent of bass pros at Christmas.
That group includes Morizo Shimizu and Ken Iyobe, who will join the Elite Series this year. They are in Japan, while Takahiro Omori, Kota Kiriyama and Miyazaki are in the states.
B.A.S.S. photography Seigo Saito, also from Japan, provided some facts on how Japan celebrates Christmas, and he contacted Shimizu and Iyobe for their Christmas stories. Shimizu sent a photo of his diminutive Christmas tree, explaining its size is related to smaller living spaces there.
Iyobe, who will be the fifth Elite angler from Japan, went out and took a photo of himself with Uncle Sanders and another with his family and Christmas tree in his boat.
Saito translated for Iyobe, saying as a family they stay in and enjoy the time talking with each other.
“It is almost a day to listen to his two daughters’ wishes, like what they want to eat, where they want to go, whatever,” Saito said. “He will never work on this day, doesn't go out, of course NO FISHING.”
Iyobe told Saito that his daughters’ dream of meeting Santa on this day. Iyobe added that lately conversations with his wife are mostly about the 2015 Bassmaster Elite Series, how excited he is and how much he wants to catch big fish during the tournaments.
Although it spreads more happiness than religion, Christmas in Japan includes tons of lights – even a lighted Godzilla-shaped tree – dining out for couples and gift-giving to children. For young adults, it’s more akin to Valentine’s Day, where couples vie for tables in crowded restaurants on Christmas Eve and enjoy strolls among festive displays.
“Especially the towns, like Tokyo, lights are everywhere,” Miyazaki said. “Pretty much similar as in U.S., like New York. It’s not really huge, but kind of like the same. Christmas in Japan is not very religious. It’s mostly Santa Claus coming for the kids.
“In Japan, we celebrate Christmas with our family until about junior high, and then it will be with friends or boyfriend/girlfriend. We eat chicken and Christmas cake. Kids get presents from Santa by their bed side.”
Even though he’s not in the Classic, Miyazaki just spent time fishing on Lake Hartwell with Omori, whose Christmas wishes would certainly include adding a second Classic title this February.
“He didn’t want to go alone,” said Miyazaki, who’s three children helped decorate their tree, complete with B.A.S.S. ornaments.
The Miyazakis had a bit of a dilemma as he had planned to go practice for the Lake Havasu Elite event, and they finally decided they needed to wait until mid-Christmas morning.
“My kids want to stay here and open presents, then straight to Havasu,” he said.
Omori said he has no special plans, while Kiriyama said he’ll probably just enjoy a dinner with friends.
“We just hang out with all my buddies here in the United States,” he said, adding he’s mostly Americanized after living here 20 years. “I guess 50/50, because I still go visit my country a couple months a year.”
Since it is a little more subdued in Japan, the anglers don’t really miss their childhood Christmas experiences. But Japanese New Year’s is a different story. Called Oshogatsu, it is more like a traditional Western Christmas and is celebrated over five days, Dec. 31 to Jan. 4.
“New Year's Day is much more valued over there in Japan,” Kiriyama said. “All the family get together and eat traditional Japanese dishes called Osechi, Ozoni and rice cakes.
Kids get money (Otoshidama) in a little pouch (Pochi Bukuro) from their parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts.”
Kiriyama called back to make it clear that New Year’s is a time when many make annual “Hatsumode” trips to shrines and temples to pray for good fortune in the new year. The main religions in Japan are Shinto, which is as old as the people who inhabit the Pacific island, and Buddhism, which was brought from the mainland in the sixth century.
“The New Year is a bigger holiday than Christmas,” Kiriyama said. “Most of the people spend the morning with family. My brother, my sister, show up. I spend time with my family and we have a lot of friends come over.”
With the money from relatives, Kiriyama just had to add, “We just buy more fishing tackle.”
Saito, who hasn’t spent Christmas in Japan since 1988 or would have a lot of photos to offer, adds there are plenty of red suits to go around.
“There’s Santa Clauses on streets everywhere trying to sell Christmas cakes,” he said.
And these Santas, or santa-san, aren’t pushing rich fruit cakes, but sponge cakes with strawberries and whipped cream. Most are decorated with flowers and a figure of Santa. The cakes are sometimes enjoyed at parties for children with games and dancing.
Saito said he recalls as a youth being excited to wake up to a gift next to his pillow, but he’s still not so sure how Colonel Sanders and KFC got connected.
“My wife is Japanese but born in the states, and she laughs at it,” he said. “She asks, ‘Why do you guys stop at KFC?’ Somehow, it’s a big thing for Japanese. They swing by Kentucky Fried Chicken and pick up a bucket to bring it home.”
Ah, the Colonel works in mysterious ways.
Editor's note: This article originally ran on Christmas of 2014.